The Drylands Eco-region Research Programme (DERP), is mandated to undertake forestry research mainly within Mt. Kenya forest and Aberdare forest ecosystems. The programme develops forestry technologies for; forest productivity and improvement, biodiversity and environment management and forest products and undertakes socio-economics, policy and governance studies in; forestry. The programme also provides technical support services on forestry.

The Programme implements its research and development activities in the following thematic areas: Forest Productivity and Improvement; Biodiversity and Environment Management; Forest Products Development; Socio-economics, Policy and Governance, and Technical Support Services.

Location

DERP headquarters is located in Kitui town, 194 km east of Nairobi. The Centre has an on-station experiment site at Tiva, 21 km from Kitui town along Kitui-Machakos road. DERP has two sub-centres at Kibwezi and Garissa, and one field station in Bura.

Forest Biodiversity and Environment Management

Development of technologies for rehabilitation of woodlands
Development of drought tolerant trees for adaptation to climate change
Management and utilization of invasive species including Prosopis
Determination of impact of charcoal production on species composition and diversity

Forest Productivity and Improvement

Propagation of high value and difficult to propagate species such as Terminalia brownii, Terminalia prunoides, bamboo and Osyris lanceolata Silvicultural management of various indigenous species including Osyris lanceolata, Vitex payos, Terminalia brownii and Melia volkensii Development of technologies for domesticating Maerua decumbens

Forest Product Development

Estimation of production potential of gums and resins
Assessment of effectiveness of Maerua decumbens extracts on water purification

Socio-economics, Policy and Governance

Development of extension methods for cost effective transfer of forest technologies
Development of cost-benefit sharing mechanism for Participatory Forest Management (PFM) among stakeholders
Determination of socio-economic contribution of charcoal value chain

Dissemination of various technologies and information on forestry through open and field days, agricultural shows, conferences and workshops, print and electronic media
Trained stakeholders on propagation techniques, nursery and field management of bamboo and Melia volkensii
Trained stakeholders on propagation techniques, nursery and field management of bamboo and Melia volkensii
Consultancy and advisory services on forestry and allied natural resources